The 

Life and Destination 



T 741 
R3 

:s Py i of the 



I 



Soul of flan. 



BY 



JOSEPH C. REID, 

Student, Law Department, University 
of Minnesota. 



Dec. 25th, 1897, 
Minneapolis, Minnesota. 



Price 10 Cents. 



The 

Life and Destination 
of the 
Soul of flan. 



BY 

JOSEPH C. REID, 

Student, Law Department, University 
of Minnesota. 



Dec. 25th, 1897, 
Minneapolis, Minnesota. 



Price 10 Cents. 



REMARKS. 

I contribute this to my friends as a product of my own experi- 
ence, and feeling- that I have a clear insight of my subject. I hope 
this will benefit others who are inclined to become interested in them- 
selves and their mission upon this earth and future destination. 
Yours sincerely, 

J. C. Reid, 
Minneapolis, Minn . 



The Libra rv 
of Congress 

washington 



C'OPYRlGllY APPLIED FOR 

At Washington by the author, to be entered according- to act of con- 
gress, A. P. 1.81)8. 



The Life and Degtofeioq of tge $ouI of Man. 



BY JOSEPH C. RE ID. 



CHAPTER I. 

Ever since God breathed into man's nostrils the 
breath of life, and man became a living soul, there 
has been divers opinions about the final destination of 
the soul of man. 

When God fashioned the form of human clay, He 
placed a mysterious inhabitant within, namely, the 
image of himself (God.) That likeness of God, which 
is enshrouded in the deepest mystery, has puzzled 
philosophers, scientists and learned men of every des- 
cription, from the dark ages of our forefathers to the 
present age of advanced civilization, yet the only 
permanent knowledge that can be attained relative to 
the mysterious soul of man can only be extracted from 
the Holy Bible. We are conscious of the fact that 
something exists within us that is f ar beyond human 
conception, and which is too deep f« r the human mind 
to fathom, and too broad for the most enlightened 
understanding, yet in a measure we are given power 
from some mysterious source to control the myster- 



— 4— 

ious impulses within, but the trouble is, it is hard for 
man to limit himself, and humbly yield to the fixed 
laws of Jehovah. Man will, in spite of himself probe 
too deeply into invisible mysteries from the standpoint 
of his egotistic capabilities rather than heed the infal- 
lible conscience, which cannot err if strictly adhered 
too. The natural result of inquiring into matters per- 
taining to the soul, contrary to God's ways, which in- 
stinct teaches that is impossible to find out through 
our own selfish efforts, is insanity, infidelity, imbecility, 
and everything which has a tendency to plunge the 
reason into chaos. Now the limit which God has 
fixed for the mysterious inhabitant within, called the 
soul, is the sacred law which is the Ten Command- 
ments, if man will remain within the pale of that law, 
he will find that his soul will cease being a mystery. 
But some will say how do we know that the Ten Com- 
mandments are God's commandments. Well the only 
possible way to find out is to keep them within yourself, 
note carefully the changes. To keep them in faith, 
will certainly open your inward eye to things so 
mysterious and foreign to the human nature, that even 
the reality of the fact, will almost seem as idle dreams, 
To live in conformity with God's law, will solicit a 
feeling from some mysterious source, which no one 
can enjoy but those who are obedient to the law. 

CHAPTER II. 
We who live in the 19th century are blessed beyond 
conception. The maximum portion of the people of 



— 5— 

today greatly undervalue their opportunities to fathom 
the secrets of the soul. We have a living example in 
the person of Christ who has given us a clear insight 
of the soul, even after death. In the person of 
Christ only, can we discern the destination of the soul. 
We see Christ from infancy to stalwart manhood, 
marking the only path from which the soul can 
emerge from its dark and mysterious secret chamber. 
The righteous judge declares that no other could per- 
form this great task but Christ. We will note the fact 
that the seed of knowledge is deposited within the soul 
by its maker at some time unknown to us during the 
process of its formation, and as time gradually de- 
velopes the mysterious inhabitant, it awakes to the con- 
sciousness of its great and intricate task in this life. 
The soul has the privilege to choose for itself as to 
what course it will pursue. It is essentially compulsory 
that the soul shall select its own course. God has so 
arranged it that the soul is responsible for its conduct. 
It is impossible for the soul to live a blank. If the soul 
chooses evil, or a complication of good and evil, the 
natural result will be sorrow, dissatisfaction in life, 
misery and death, but to choose the good part, means 
to solve the mystery of the soul's mission upon this 
earth and permanently locate its future destination. 
When the soul truly awakes to its duty it will naturally 
seek the pardon of its maker. It will become peni- 
tent and seek to repair its wrongs, which it will fully 
realize then, that nothing but a life of devotion to God 
will suffice to please His Majesty. 



—6— 



CHAPTER III. 

It must be well understood that the evolution of a 
man's soul depends upon spiritual reasoning. He 
must be thoroughly conscious of the real changes that 
mark the upward progress of the soul. His experience 
through life must be stimulated by his feelings, each 
must bear witness to the other, and that alone can 
establish the assurance of a realty of the soul's desti- 
nation . Spiritual reasoning astounds the carnal mind 
and sets at naught all earthly desire for that which is 
seen and admired by the natural eye. Though it does 
not by any means destroy the natural inquisition into 
things that are observed, on the contrary it multiplies 
interest in all things created. The evolution of the 
soul is realized each day we live. The perpetual flow 
of time conveys to the soul occupation, in which it 
must engage. Each day has secretly enshrouded with- 
in the dawn of its brilliancy both good and evil. 

Inasmuch as it is compulsory for the soul to select 
for itself, the prudent soul will under no consideration 
allow, evil to thrust its poisonous fangs into its great 
storehouse of knowledge, which is not only essential 
to the soul's happiness upon this earth, but will deter- 
mine its future and everlasting abiding place. If the 
imprudent soul neglects the good part, there is nothing 
left for it but evil which it shall, through force of culti- 
vated habit, be compelled to accept, the result thereof 
being discontent and unhappiness upon this earth, 
and a frowning God and endless punishment to meet 
face to face in its future and final destination. 



CHAPTER IV. 

We have new thoughts each day we live, what we 
think to day we will not think tomorrow. What 
seems right to us today will be seen in a more brilliant 
light tomorrow. For the soul to comprehend and 
grasp the various new thoughts of each day, it must 
be in a receptive frame of mind upon rising from its 
slumber, and under no circumstances bring the doings 
of yesterday into the life of today, for a soul is 
nourished daily as we nourish our bodies, or as the 
flowers of the earth are watered by the dew. If the 
soul would solve the problem of its mysterious mission 
upon earth, it must live each day for itself. 

There are many things which come to the soul each 
day of its existence upon this earth, there are joys, sor- 
rows, disappointments and many other things that are 
inexplicable. These different feelings do not always 
come from any known cause to us, for some times the 
purest soul suffers most. But God, certainly, has his 
reasons for sending trouble in its various forms to the 
soul. Those who reason from a spiritual standpoint 
will admit, that to suffer all things patiently brings to 
the soul a mysterious soothing feeling, that can be only 
felt by the sufferer. That serene happiness, even in 
suffering, cannot be bestowed upon man by man, but 
is truly from some invisible source. The sufferer does 
not exactly relish suffering while going through the 
unpleasant ordeal, but the after effect is something 
sublime, and confirms the fact that there is untold 



pleasure that the soul is heir to, even under the great- 
est difficulties. 

CHAPTER V. 
The soul, in its daily activities of life, unconsciously 
conveys to each individual that it comes in contact 
with some kind of an impression. A look or a word 
from a person is spontaneously dissected by thesensa- 
tive soul, a feeling can accurately read a feeling at 
the first glance of a vigilant eye. There is no way 
possible to deceive the sensitive soul, for the feeling 
is that mysterious feeling which connects together 
every human heart, it being so arranged that if one 
soul suffers in pain in any part of this great universe, 
and another derives knowledge of the fact, through 
history, newspapers, or any other source, it will un- 
doubtedly share part of the suffering, or joy in its 
mysterious feelings regardless of the interest manifested. 
It is through the feelings that we gain permanent and 
conclusive knowledge of God, and we can know and 
understand Him through no other source. The heart 
in performing its mysterious functions in life, is the 
sole producer of every issue in life. That which 
ensues from the heart is the true and living acts 
and essence of our character, whether they be good or 
evil, but the real acts cannot be apprehended through 
any other source than that of the feelings. The acts 
done, prompted by the kind of spirit in which they are 1 
done, regardless of the nature of such acts, are the 
soul's actual workings, and forms the composition of a 



_ 9 — 

real perpetual life upon this earth, which speeds on 
into the great future, and awaits the soul at its final 
destination; and with a silent gaze confirms the works 
performed upon earth, which determines its eternal 
abiding place. Those acts are securely kept, and 
timely remembered, by the same mysterious power 
who created the soul. Every soul that is created has 
a hidden gift, it is so fixed by our Maker that peace 
cannot abide with the soul until that gift is dis- 
covered and developed and the results persued. That 
mysterious feeling of unrest which inhabits every 
human heart, is only an incentive to our life's work, 
it teaches us to strive to find out what God requires 
of us and permanent happiness can never remain with 
the soul until it becomes fully conscious of the great 
duty imposed upon it by its Maker. 

CHAPTER VI. 
Happiness of the soul can never be secured except 
we live true to our feelings. Let every word you 
speak have a meaning. Rather remain silent, than 
speak harsh to any one. If you feel despondent and 
cannot conceal your feelings, rather seek se- 
clusion than distribute your feelings among your con- 
stituants. But if you feel joyful, conceal not your 
feelings. Careful study of the feelings is essentially 
important to acquire knowledge and to understand 
the language of the true definition of the various feel- 
ings. Do not become impatient because of the un- 
desirable feelings, for when we are perfectly 



IO 

satisfied that we have done our best, in all things, 
we are not responsible for any of our feelings, 
for we have given ourselves up to the mysterious 
leadership within. Do not stop to find fault over 
feelings that you can't understand, but immediately, 
with diligence, seek a remedy, and you will find it if 
you only make the effort. But the remedy that is 
found to our satisfaction, cannot be obtained from any 
visible source, but we look for the remedy, and the 
wounded spirit is healed, and the physician cometh 
and goeth at will, whither we cannot tell, but we do 
know that the remedy was effectively applied by that 
same mysterious power who supplies all needs to those 
who ask of Him, because He loves his own production. 

If God had intended for this world to claim the soul 
for its permanent inhabitant, could not He have made 
it happy always? Could not He have fashioned every- 
thing to suit the cravings of the inner man without 
one single effort on His part? Could not God have 
made everything sunshine if he had so willed 5 Could 
He not have exterminated from the world all troubles 
and sorrows? Most assuredly he could, but for reasons 
withheld from us, and which He has unquestionable 
right to do if He so chooses, did He create us as He did 
to carry a burden through life. I am satisfied that 
God has a great purpose in view and happy we will 
be when we can distintly descern His noble purpose, 
for what pleasure would it be to God to make us 
miserable. He is not a tyrant, but a loving Father, 



— 1 1 — 

who knows the needs of his own better than we know 
them ourselves. Oh, the depths of the soul can be 
fathomed by no one but its Maker. 

CHAPTER VII. 
Let every man follow his own instinct and con- 
science for they alone establish with God satisfaction 
and also quicken the spirit to the requisite demand of 
its Creator, which promotes peace and happiness, that 
passeth the understanding of all creation. But re- 
member that to follow truth from within, will harmon- 
ize with all truth that is observed in others each 
day we live. We have every evidence conveyed to us 
through our feelings, that this world is not the home 
of the soul. For example, if a person cultivates daily 
spiritual activity, he can live a life wholly free from 
the body. Every Christian should live such a life- 
The future life of the soul assumes form in our present 
existence. The full value of our existence cannot be 
fully appreciated until our final destination is con- 
cluded. To live a life absolutely free from material 
existence, is essentailly spiritual, which is of no vague 
importance, for if one cannot succeed in living free 
from self consciousness upon this earth, neither can he 
at his future destination. For as a tree is planted and 
fertilized to promote growth, so will it be determined. 
Its abundance depends upon the care given it, and the 
quality of fertility. It a soul will attempt to satisfy 
the lust of the flesh, and continue to do so until it 
takes its flight into the great future beyond, it will 



12 

reasonably carry with it the fruits of bodily lust, 
which designates endlesss misery and suffering to the 
soul, for the genuine substance, whose formation was 
cultivated consciously by its possesor, cannot prove 
false to itself. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The mysterious inner man is responsible for all 
right or wrong doings committed upon this earth, and 
through it and at our will, the future life is carefully 
moulded. We are in the capacity of actors at the 
present and it behooves us to act exclusively accord- 
ing to our instinctive dictations, then we shall know 
the real truth according to our established foundation 
which we build each moment of our mysterious lives 
upon earth. Oh, if w 7 e could only realized how 
valuable each moment is, we would exchange 
nothing for our opportunities in the present, which 
heedlessly pass us by unnoticed. 

Why stand ye idle all the day? But how kind God 
must be, to be so patient in our willful neglect of Him. 
If the soul would only realize its important mission 
upon earth, even when it has treated its Maker with 
the utmost contempt, and lived a rebellious life, even 
to the time of its realization of its slighted work, God, 
who dearly loves his own product, would gladly 
welcome the soul to a place of happiness and safety, 
if the feelings would only concede its guilt. God in His 
profound devotion to his own offspring has uneringly 
and sufficiently, constructed a royal path from this 



— 13— 

earth into the great future beyond, and there is no 
possible way for the most illiterate to err. 

God has performed many great acts through man in 
order to convince the soul of its true greatness and 
rich inheritance. The latter being the object of the 
soul's mission upon earth. But the last and most 
simple way that God has constructed for man to per- 
sue his true mission, and solve the mysteries of the 
soul is through the immaculate Christ, the soul's greatest 
emancipator, for through Christ the soul can reach a 
permanent and definite conclusion, and be satisfied 
as to its destination, providing it will follow in His 
direct footsteps, for without Christ the soul will re- 
main in complete darkness, and no permanent knowl- 
edge can possibly be obtained of the soul's future 
destiny. The life of Christ is the life of every true 
Christian. If a Christian desires to know the soul's 
accurate standing and the distance it has traveled, 
read the life of Christ and compare the feelings and 
experiences with the realities of Christ's life, and har- 
mony is the result. It sets at naught all doubt and 
establishes an assurance of confidence within one's self 
that he is right. But if the feelings of the soul do not 
hormoniously respond to our belief in Christ, but are of 
a rebellious and skeptical nature, there is something 
very much out of tune, for Christ, in a measure, only 
performed what the mysterious soul must accomplish. 
CHAPTER X. 

If you would attain present comfort, as well as 



— 14— 

eternal happiness and rest, and a determination of 
your future destiny, you will find it within the simpli- 
city of Christ, for in Him we have all things, and 
understand all things. We have the conquering 
remedy for things seen and not seen, in Christ's sim- 
plicity, and any attempt to probe the mystery of 
human life otherwise will utterly fail and increase the 
tangibility of the mind, and create a feeling of great 
dissatisfaction in our present lives, as well as disobedi- 
ence to our loving Heavenly Father. To look upon 
the ways of Christ as a secondary resort for the soul, 
will create perpetual unrest and that is why the 
world is undergoing such a severe ordeal of discon- 
tentment. Men sever their interest in Christ, 
because of its simplicity, and because all men are ac- 
cessory to His goodness, which is seemingly easy to 
acquire, many of our most intellectual people reject 
His teachings. They cast them aside with other com- 
mon things, unaware of the fact that they part with 
the only key that will unlock life's mysteries and per- 
mit mortal man to know the reason of his existence, 
and a peep into the joys of his future destiny. 

The depth of Christ's simplicity cannot be fathomed. 
It might look, to the man who pretends to master 
great problems, as something easy, but it is after all 
the most intricate way to follow. The only necessity 
required is to consider your knowledge as naught and 
subject yourself to the real changes which take place 
daily within you, and hold fast to all that is good, and 



— i5— 

believe firmly in His capabilities, even though the evi- 
dence within seemingly deserts you. Then your duty 
shall have been performed, and your eyes will be 
opened to wonders. 

CHAPTER XI. 

To daily cultivate the simplicity of our Saviour, 
renders other great attainments as a pebble in an 
ocean. Other acquisitions are as shadows, quick to 
come and soon to pass away. They are of vague im- 
portance to a soul seeking knowledge to understand 
its mission upon this earth. But the cultivated sim- 
plicity of Christ will live forever. The great and spot- 
less soul of Christ suffered as ours suffer, the only dif- 
ference was that our Saviour knew better than we the 
reward that awaits a penitent, suffering soul. He 
bore the burden that the great inheritance might be 
ours if we choose to accept. He even passed into the 
future world to make known to all skeptical minds 
that death was no bar to our existence. He passed 
into the soul's future destination and declared its in- 
valuable inheritance. 

CHAPTER XII. 

The soul of Christ, immediately after death, found 
its abiding place in paradise, which is a place of rest, 
and our souls are subject to the same, if one of Christ's 
followers. In paradise the soul shall rest until the 
resurrection. According to the example of Christ, we 
shall descend as He did, and afterwards be raised in 
power and receive our glorious reward at our final 



— i6— 

destination. The soul of Christ, after three days, 
entered into His body, which was symbolical of what 
we shall do. His spirit was also quickened and His 
likeness changed. The same applies to us, for if we 
suffer as He did we shall also rejoice as He did. After 
his brief stay upon earth He ascended to appear before 
the Great Judge, the architect of the universe, and all 
things visible and invisible. There, with this Great 
Judge, is the abode of our Saviour, which is also the 
home and destination of the mysterious soul, I refer to 
those who follow Christ's example. We shall experi- 
ence all these things as Christ did, we shall be consci- 
ous of our existence in paradise, where we shall await 
our resurrection, just as we are conscious of our ex- 
istence upon this earth. But the crowning point, will 
not be reached until after the resurrection, then we 
shall meet face to face the creator of this mysterious 
inhabitant within this wonderfully constructed body. 
Then at last the final destination of the soul will be 
realized . 

The way of life is precedent with a marked distinc- 
tion, and in the language of the Bible, "so plain that 
even a fool need not err." "Ask and it shall be given." 
."Seek and you shall find." "Knock and the door shall 
be opened unto you." To all who desire light upon 
this important subject, seek and you shall find knowl- 
edge and understanding, that no one but those who 
labor diligently and sincerely can possess. 

THE END. 



